Jonny May urges England to move up a gear to see off Argentina in second Test

Impact: Jonny May scored in the first Test
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Ian Laybourn15 June 2017

Jonny May says England have a couple more gears to move through as they target a 2-0 series triumph over Argentina.

The 27-year-old Gloucester wing is bracing himself for a backlash from the Pumas after they were pipped 38-34 in the first Test in San Juan on Saturday.

But he insists England are in no mood to let up after they stepped up preparations for the next clash in Sante Fe with a rigorous training session at the San Isidro Club, 14 miles north of Buenos Aires.

"I feel this weekend they're going to be better and we're going to have to be better as well," said May, who will win his 27th cap on Saturday.

"I still think there's a couple more gears in this side, especially seeing as how many new guys we've got. We are getting used to it and developing in every session and every day.

"Today was probably our biggest hit-out of the week and our physical day. We always train hard, aiming to train above match intensity so it was a hard session.

"We have got better every session as a squad so that is good preparation.

"The aim is to train that hard and not get hurt, and recover as well. The emphasis is huge on recovery here we have ice baths, massage, stretching... so that is how we manage to train at that intensity and also get prepared for a Test match.

"It is great training. It is fatigue, it is unstructured and it works you physically and mentally and it also brings the team together as well.

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"When you are under that physical stress and unstructured play under fatigue it gets you ready for the hard matches you play.

"On Saturday there were some long phases of play and some tough bits but it is not by chance that we win in those last plays of the game. We train so hard to prepare for those times."

May is now close to regaining peak fitness following a 10-month lay-off with the knee injury he sustained in an Aviva Premiership match in December 2015.

He says his visit to Olympic champion Michael Johnson's academy in Texas is beginning to pay off as he can now reach 23mph in sprint training.

"I have been running over 10 metres per second recently which is good," May said. "I have been looked after this week, not because of my knee, but so I can be fresh for next week.

"I couldn't even run a year ago. Considering my injury, I have exceeded my expectations of what I thought I would achieve this year.

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"Eighteen months is when they say it is as good as new and I am 15 months now. Although I don't notice it getting better, it probably is.

"I worked so hard on it. After this tour it will be the first break I have had since the World Cup because last summer I did not take a day off to get my knee right.

"I am looking forward to having a real good game this weekend and then having a good break."

England coach Eddie Jones will announce his team for the second Test after they fly to Santa Fe on Thursday

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